Locals can be nominated for Awards of Excellence in particular areas designed to recognize the local history and cultural heritage of the reason, including archaeology, education, literature, and natural history. Individuals who have contributed to heritage conservation for over a decade of their professional careers can receive the Sally Thorsen Award of Excellence.
Other awards presented by the Foundation include the Dr. Jean Steckle Award for education, the Heritage Research Award for university students, and the History Prize for published work. The awards are presented each year in a ceremony that honours the winners and nominees. This year’s ceremony will be held on May 12.
The Heritage Foundation collects nominees through an online portal, including from cities like Kitchener and Cambridge. Local cultural awards like this often draw on Print shops and trophy makers to help give recipients physical mementos of their achievements. The Foundation recently celebrated its 50th anniversary and defined heritage as:
"Heritage is what we receive from the past, what we live with today and what we pass on to future generations. Heritage can be cultural or natural, tangible or intangible."
Nominations for the 2026 Waterloo Regional Heritage Foundation awards will be open until February 27.
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